The birth of the American Empire

FOUNDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE Imperialism: establishing and maintaining empires From colony to colonist Global political scene ripe for empire building Leading power England, France, Germany, Weakest link: Spain

FOUNDATIONS OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE Political unity—Reconstruction Economic progress: manufacturing, infrastructural developments The American Industrial Revolution (inventions, the rise of trusts,coal, steel production) Social stratification: increasing role of the entrepreneur, importance of the individual

IDEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS Expansion of Manifest Destiny Closure of the frontier, new frontier: Far East White Man’s Burden, Rudyard Kipling Anglo-Saxon superiority-Josiah Strong: Our Country: Its Possible Future and Present Crisis(1885) main aspects: civil liberty and pure spiritual Christianity Realpolitik v. idealism, morality Clausewitz

IDEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS Alfred T. Mahan: The Influence of Sea Power upon History : national greatness and prosperity is based on naval power Urges the development of the Navy, merchant marines, promotes colonization, establishment of naval bases U.S. should control the Caribbean, build an isthmian canal, spread Western civilization in the Pacific

SOCIAL THOUGHT Application of Social Darwinism to nations John Fiske: American Political Ideas (1885) superiority of the English Race The Washington Post „A new consciousness seems to have come upon us--the consciousness of strength-- and with it a new appetite, the yearning to show our strength…We are face to face with a strange destiny- The taste of Empire is in the mouth of the people even as a taste of blood in the jungle”

CHANGES IN FOREIGN POLICY Divergences from the Monroe Doctrine (1823) 1863: Strengthening the Mexican border 1867: Seward’s folly—the purchase of Alaska Alabama Claims: settling dispute with Britain through arbitration Pan-American Union—James G. Blaine, a commercial and economic union of the countries of the Western Hemisphere, led by the U.S.

EXPANSION IN THE PACIFIC Sandwich Islands—(Hawaii) coaling, refueling station, commercial and naval base potential 1878: Naval base at Pago Pago (Samoa) 1887: U.S. rights to Pearl Harbor-increased American settlement 1891 Queen Liliuokalani reclaims Hawaiian power— white settlers rebel, U.S. supports uprising and the democratic movement 1893: annexation of Hawaii

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR Expansion of U.S. interest in the Caribbean (sugar plantations, mining) 1895: Revolution in Cuba, uprising against the Spanish colonizers American support of rebels, identification with Cuba, parallels with the American Revolution Anti-Spanish propaganda, yellow journalism (sensationalistic newswriting promoting war purposes)

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR „Butcher Veyler” the brute, the devastator of haciendas, the destroyer of men William Randolph Hearst: New York Journal Joseph Pulitzer: New York World 1898: Explosion on the USS Maine-Remember the Maine De Lome letter: offends U.S. and President McKinley

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR Theodore Roosevelt VP to McKinley: the country needs war 1898 April 21 U.S. declares war on Spain A four-month war: Caribbean and Pacific Fronts Charge at San Juan Hill—Rough Riders Battle of Manila

EMPIRE IN THE PACIFIC U.S. in return for a 20 million USD compensation takes over the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam— Treaty of Paris : uprising in the Philippines led by Emilio Aguinaldo Open Door policy in China, defeating the Boxer Rebellion Preservation of Chinese territorial and administrative integrity

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY ”speak softly and carry a big stick” Agressive expansionism Promotion of Anglo-Saxon superiority 1903: Panama Canal treaty after U.S. recognizes Panama’s ”independence” 1904: U.S. exercises international police power in its own sphere of influence. Reserves the right to intervene in internal affairs of nations in order to stop European influence.